2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

Last updated

2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Mississippi State Bulldogs logo.svg
Armed Forces Bowl champion
Armed Forces Bowl, W 28–26 vs. Tulsa
Conference Southeastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Record4–7 (3–7 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive scheme Air raid
Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett (1st season)
Base defense 3–3–5
Home stadium Davis Wade Stadium
Seasons
←  2019
2021  →
2020 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 13 Florida x  8 –2   8 –4  
No. 7 Georgia  7 –2   8 –2  
Missouri  5 –5   5 –5  
Kentucky  4 –6   5 –6  
Tennessee*  3 –7   3 –7  
South Carolina  2 –8   2 –8  
Vanderbilt  0 –9   0 –9  
West Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#^  10 –0   13 –0  
No. 4 Texas A&M  8 –1   9 –1  
Auburn  6 –4   6 –5  
LSU*  5 –5   5 –5  
Ole Miss  4 –5   5 –5  
Arkansas  3 –7   3 –7  
Mississippi State  3 –7   4 –7  
Championship: Alabama 52, Florida 46
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Tennessee vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. LSU was ineligible for postseason due to self imposed ban.
    Note: Due to COVID-19, the SEC played a conference-only schedule.
Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year head coach Mike Leach.

Contents

In a season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulldogs compiled a 3–7 record in a 10-game all-SEC schedule. As the NCAA had waived bowl eligibility requirements for the season, [1] the Bulldogs received an invitation to the Armed Forces Bowl where they defeated Tulsa, becoming one of the few bowl teams with a losing record to record a bowl victory.

SEC Media Days

In the preseason media poll, Mississippi State was predicted to finish in a tie for fifth place in the West Division. [2]

Media poll (West Division)
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Alabama660 (86)
2LSU489 (8)
3Auburn488
4Texas A&M454 (2)
T5Ole Miss238
T5Mississippi State238
7Arkansas121

Schedule

Mississippi State announced its 2020 football schedule on August 7, 2019. [3] The 2020 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season.

The Bulldogs had games scheduled against Alabama A&M, New Mexico, NC State, and Tulane, but were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] [5] [6]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 262:30 p.m.at No. 6 LSU
CBS W 44–3421,124
October 36:30 p.m. Arkansas No. 16
 SECN Alt. L 14–2113,564
October 106:30 p.m.at Kentucky
SECNL 2–2412,000
October 173:00 p.m.No. 11 Texas A&M
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
 ESPN L 14–2813,142
October 316:00 p.m.at No. 2 Alabama
ESPN L 0–4119,424
November 72:30 p.m. Vanderbilt Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
SECNW 24–1712,888
November 216:30 p.m.at No. 13 Georgia
SECNL 24–3120,524
November 283:00 p.m.at Ole Miss
SECNL 24–3116,218
December 12 [a] 6:30 p.m. Auburn
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
SECNL 10–2412,986
December 192:30 p.m. Missouri
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
SECN Alt.W 51–3211,748
December 3111:00 a.m.vs. No. 24 Tulsa *
ESPNW 28–269,000
^[a] The game between Auburn and Mississippi State was postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 on the Mississippi State team. The game was originally scheduled for November 14.
Schedule Source: [7]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP RVRVRVRV16RVRV—
Coaches RVRVRVRV14RVRV—
CFP Not releasedNot released

Game summaries

At No. 6 LSU

1234Total
•Bulldogs314101744
No. 6 Tigers014101034
  • Sources:
StatisticsMSSTLSU
First downs2425
Total yards632425
Rushing yards980
Passing yards623345
Turnovers42
Time of possession30:2829:32
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassing K. J. Costello 36/60, 623 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Kylin Hill 7 carries, 34 yards
Receiving Osirus Mitchell 7 receptions, 183 yards, 2 TD
LSUPassing Myles Brennan 27/46, 345 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingChris Curry9 carries, 47 yards
Receiving Terrace Marshall Jr. 8 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD

Arkansas

1234Total
Razorbacks777021
No. 16 Bulldogs707014
StatisticsARKMSST
First downs1724
Total yards275400
Rushing yards6387
Passing yards212313
Turnovers24
Time of possession23:4036:20
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ArkansasPassing Feleipe Franks 20/28, 212 yards, 2 TD
RushingTrelon Smith14 rushes, 48 yards
ReceivingDe'Vion Warren4 receptions, 100 yards, TD
Mississippi StatePassingK. J. Costello43/59, 313 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Dillon Johnson 9 rushes, 39 yards, TD
ReceivingOsirus Mitchell5 receptions, 61 yards

At Kentucky

1234Total
Bulldogs00202
Wildcats01401024
StatisticsMSSTUK
First downs1810
Total yards295157
Rushing yards2084
Passing yards27573
Turnovers61
Time of possession34:4925:11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingK. J. Costello36/55, 232 yards, 4 INT
RushingKylin Hill7 rushes, 17 yards
ReceivingKylin Hill15 receptions, 79 yards
KentuckyPassing Terry Wilson 8/20, 73 yards, TD
RushingTerry Wilson13 rushes, 50 yards
Receiving Josh Ali 2 receptions, 22 yards

No. 11 Texas A&M

1234Total
No. 11 Aggies01414028
Bulldogs007714
StatisticsTAMUMSST
First downs1715
Total yards325217
Rushing yards186-2
Passing yards139219
Turnovers12
Time of possession30:3229:28
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Texas A&MPassing Kellen Mond 13/23, 139 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Isaiah Spiller 18 rushes, 114 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingChase Lane2 receptions, 70 yards, TD
Mississippi StatePassing Will Rogers 15/18, 120 yards, TD
Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 7 rushes, 25 yards
Receiving Malik Heath 5 receptions, 57 yards, TD

At No. 2 Alabama

1234Total
Bulldogs00000
•No. 2 Crimson Tide171001441
  • Sources:

Statistics

StatisticsMSSTALA
First downs1226
Total yards200499
Rushing yards37208
Passing yards163291
Turnovers31
Time of possession28:1831:42
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers24/37, 147 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 9 rushes, 32 yards
ReceivingJo'Quavious Marks8 receptions, 38 yards
AlabamaPassing Mac Jones 24/31, 291 yards, 4 TD
Rushing Najee Harris 21 rushes, 119 yards
Receiving DeVonta Smith 11 receptions, 203 yards, 4 TD

Vanderbilt

1234Total
Commodores0071017
Bulldogs1430724
StatisticsVANMSST
First downs3014
Total yards478204
Rushing yards142-22
Passing yards336226
Turnovers50
Time of possession32:1027:50
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VanderbiltPassing Ken Seals 31/46, 336 yards, TD, 3 INT
RushingKeyon Henry-Brooks20 rushes, 115 yards, TD
Receiving Cam Johnson 10 receptions, 114 yards
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers35/46, 226 yards, TD
RushingJo'Quavious Marks6 rushes, 10 yards, TD
ReceivingMalik Heath9 receptions, 79 yards

At No. 13 Georgia

1234Total
Bulldogs3147024
No. 13 Bulldogs0177731

Statistics

StatisticsMSSTUGA
First downs2018
Total yards358409
Rushing yards228
Passing yards336401
Turnovers00
Time of possession32:0727:53
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassing Will Rogers 41–52, 336 yards, TD
Rushing Dillon Johnson 8 rushes, 19 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jaden Walley 7 receptions, 115 yards, TD
GeorgiaPassing J. T. Daniels 28–38, 401 yards, 4 TD
Rushing Zamir White 11 rushes, 21 yards
Receiving Jermaine Burton 8 receptions, 197 yards, 2 TD

At Ole Miss

1234Total
Bulldogs01401024
Rebels14701031
Over/underPregame line
Ole Miss –9.570.5

Statistics

StatisticsMSSTMISS
First downs2324
Total yards479550
Rushing yards39163
Passing yards440387
Turnovers10
Time of possession32:2727:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassing Will Rogers 45–61, 440 yards, 3 TD
RushingWill Rogers4 rushes, 26 yards
Receiving Jaden Walley 9 receptions, 176 yards
Ole MissPassing Matt Corral 24–36, 385 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Jerrion Ealy 18 rushes, 93 yards, TD
Receiving Elijah Moore 12 receptions, 139 yards

Auburn

1234Total
Tigers3331524
Bulldogs030710
Over/underPregame line
Auburn –6.574.6

Statistics

StatisticsAUBMSST
First downs1917
Total yards343240
Rushing yards21819
Passing yards125221
Turnovers02
Time of possession30:5629:04
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AuburnPassing Bo Nix 15–32, 125 yards, TD
Rushing Tank Bigsby 26 rushes, 192 yards
Receiving Seth Williams 3 receptions, 57 yards, TD
Mississippi StatePassing Will Rogers 30–51, 221 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing Dillon Johnson 5 rushes, 30 yards
Receiving Jaden Walley 8 receptions, 100 yards

Missouri

1234Total
Tigers7381432
Bulldogs141371751

Statistics

StatisticsMIZMSST
First downs2224
Total yards342446
Rushing yards101151
Passing yards241295
Turnovers43
Time of possession28:5731:03
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MissouriPassing Connor Bazelak 22–38, 225 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Larry Rountree III 25 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKeke Chism6 receptions, 64 yards, TD
Mississippi StatePassing Will Rogers 21–36, 295 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 12 rushes, 70 yards, TD
Receiving Jaden Walley 5 receptions, 129 yards, TD

Vs. No. 24 Tulsa (Armed Forces Bowl)

1234Total
No. 24 Golden Hurricane0671326
Bulldogs7014728

Statistics

StatisticsTLSAMSST
First downs2716
Total yards484271
Rushing yards137123
Passing yards347148
Turnovers20
Time of possession31:1928:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TulsaPassing Zach Smith 26–46, 347 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingCorey Taylor II20 rushes, 80 yards, TD
Receiving Keylon Stokes 9 receptions, 117 yards, TD
Mississippi StatePassing Will Rogers 19–30, 148 yards, TD
Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 11 rushes, 72 yards, TD
ReceivingAustin Williams3 receptions, 42 yards

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
7253 Marquiss Spencer DE Denver Broncos
7256 Kylin Hill RB Green Bay Packers

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References

  1. ↑ "DI Council approves football bowl eligibility requirements waiver". NCAA.org (Press release). October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced". SECSports.com. Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ "2020 Football Schedule Announced". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. August 7, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  4. ↑ Talty, John (July 30, 2020). "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ Visser, David (July 21, 2020). "SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  6. ↑ Dellenger, Ross. "Sources: SEC Adopts Conference-Only Schedule With Sept. 26 Start". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ "2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
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